Self-sabotage can be seen as self-protection. It is an action people take to prevent their own success, to avoid efforts.
The tendency to self- sabotage appears to occur due to concern for the evaluation of others. Failure to self-display imperfection is a defensive strategy that can lead to self-defeating behavior. However, the term self-sabotage is also used to address personal and intrapersonal relationships. They are the result of an insecure attachment style or conflicting goals.
In practice, insecure attachment can lead to a negative response with defensive strategies. A way to avoid new relationships to prevent hurt and inner suffering. Defensive strategies can become self-sabotaging and hinder the success of a relationship. Here is a study to define self-sabotage and related problems related to it in romantic relationships.
Self-sabotage in these relationships becomes a self-protection technique instead of encouraging the formation of close emotional ties. Insecurely attached people perceive their partner’s behavior negatively, sabotaging the possibility of a long-term relationship. Expectations affect how people behave in a relationship. Other reasons for breaking up a relationship are commitment issues, dissatisfaction, conflict, and lack of trust. Two other hurdles are the ability to regulate risk and the lack of balance between stressors in relationships. Those who use self-sabotage have insecure vision of relationships, so failure is an expected outcome. If the relationship fails there will be confirmation of the negative beliefs, while if it is successful it means that it survives the defensive strategies.
- Self-sabotage in romantic relationships (stateofmind.it)
